For theÜber Updatefestivities, Valve set upTeam Fortress 2with week-long free status. I thought this was a smart idea, but not entirely unexpected, since Valve has a history of pulling such stunts. Making the full game free, forever? Yeah, that’s a bit more ballsy — and it’s apparently what the company is doing.

In an interview with Develop, Valve’s Robin Walker outed the big plan. “We’ve been toying with the idea of makingTeam Fortressfree-to-play ever since the Mann-conomy update,” Walker reveals.Many of us figuredDota 2would be the guinea pig, although this strategy will clearly be a good fit forTF2‘s established storefront.

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“The data we got back from that update leads us to believe thatTF2would be more successful as a completely free product. We’re always improving on the relationship we have with our customers, and we’re willing to run experiments if we think it will help us learn how to do that better.”

Valve: Team Fortress 2 is free forever[Develop — Thanks, Duran L]

The opening area of the Whisper mission, in a small grove.

The Divide in the Cosmodrome, where the Guardian was resurrected.

A holofoil Ribbontail, as seen in collections.

The Phoneutria Fera hand cannon, inspired by the Season of the Haunted armor set. It has a unique, galactic glow.

Three Fuses appear in a match of Apex Legends' Wild Card mode.

Mad Maggie opens a supply bin and an item with a symbol indicating infinite ammo appears.

Legends slide through a zipline in King’s Canyon in Apex Legends.

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The Yeartide Apex tex Mechanica SMG with a Holofoil glow.